It’s easy to understand why the Chrysler 300 is ranked third by U.S. Weekly on its list of the 10 Most Affordable large cars in the country. With it’s powerful V-6 engine, spacious interior, attractive styling and 31 mpg fuel economy rating, it is a solid contender.
The 2014 Chrysler 300 model has been called “the most appointed entry-level Chrysler flagship sedan ever.” With such standard items as heated-leather front seats, the innovative Uconnect 8.4 with voice commands, keyless entry and electronic stability control, the Chrysler 300 offers a broad range of comfort, convenience and technology.
Under the hood, the Chrysler 300 is powered by an aluminum 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine (19/27 mpg) or the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with 370 hp with four-cylinder mode Fuel Saver Technology. Both are mated to the state of the art ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with three more gear ratios added to reduce the gaps normally associated with upshifting and downshifting. The gearbox delivers quicker acceleration and smoother shifts.
On the Chrysler 300S and 300C John Varvatos Luxury and Limited Edition models, quicker shifting is possible as a result of a “Sport” shift mode. If you let the transmission shift in “Sport” mode, gear changes are quicker and revs are held higher for more performance- oriented acceleration and higher shift dynamics. For even more control, you can also use a pair of die-cast, steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters and see your gear selection through a color EVIC centered in the instrument cluster.
There is a laundry list of standard equipment on the 300, including front-row reactive head restraints, advanced multi-stage air bags, full-length side-curtain air bags, seat-mounted side-thorax air bags, driver’s knee bag, rear head restraints in all positions, electronic stability control (ESC), Hill-start Assist (HSA), Rain Brake Support (RBS), Ready Alert Braking (RAB), tire-pressure monitoring (TPM), USB port with iPod control, SiriusXM Radio, SD-card reader, auxiliary audio input jack, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, six-speaker audio, Keyless Enter-N-Go, dualzone automatic climate control with humidity sensor, cabin air filtration, acoustic windshield and front-door glass, 12-way power driver’s seats including four-way power lumbar, cruise control, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, leather-wrapped Chrysler brand steering wheel with manual tilt/telescoping steering column and a leather-wrapped shift knob.
Seventeen-inch painted aluminum wheels with P215/65R17 all-season touring tires are standard and there’s also a comfort-tuned suspension, touring brake package, liquid-chrome grille bars with chromed surround, bi-halogen projector headlamps with chromed bezels, automatic headlamps, chromed daylight opening, chromed front and rear fascia accents, LED-illuminated “C” shaped daytime running lamps (DRL), body-color exterior mirrors and door handles, LED-illuminated taillights with LED-illuminated light pipe, dual-chromed exhaust tips with rolled-edges, cap-less fuelfiller door with power release, 17-inch compact spare tire and chromed “300” deck-lid badge.
The MSRP on the 2014 Chrysler 300 is $30,340.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or by addressing email to Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com.
